(CelebrityAccess) — Veteran artist manager Nick John, the longtime manager for the American heavy metal band Mastodon, died on Saturday after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
News of John’s passing broke via an Instagram posting by Mastodon guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds, which included a picture of John and a broken heart emoji.
The post came days after the band revealed that he John had been battling pancreatic cancer and just weeks after they canceled their upcoming tour with Dinosaur Jr. due to a “critical situation” with one of the members of the group’s family.
In a separate post on the band’s Facebook page, they effusively thanked him for his contributions to the band’s success.
As a member of the Rick Sales Management team, for more than 20 years, John signed Mastodon in 2006 and guided the band’s career as they racked up five Grammy nominations and one win for their 2017 album “Sultan’s Curse.”
In 2012, he began working with the French metal band Gojira, who went on to win a pair of Grammys in 2016.
He also collaborated closely with Slayer in a management capacity, earning executive producer credits on several of the band’s albums, including God Hates Us All, War at the Warfield, Soundtrack To the Apocalypse, and Still Reigning.
He began his career in music as an intern at Rick Rubin’s Def Jam Recordings.
John is survived by his wife, Colleen, his mother and sister. Information about memorial services will be announced.
